Apparatus for treating packaged goods



E C. NORTHRUP ET AL APPARATUS FOR TREATING PACKAGED GOODS June 5, 1923.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 23, 1.920

WITNESS 3(4 4 June 5, 1923.

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 23,

- EfiNorthrup EH. fipechb.

0 m 4 a a 4 3 .l Y Q Q 3 3. {X o 1 y. A}. I- T 1 m A L a V v V w Z W z: 4 W T mm .4. A m z I 4 I A A. A U I A H m H WW @r 6 9N w A V Patented .lune 5, 1923.

warren mm. C. HOBTEBUP, OF SAN FRANCISCO, AND EDWARD H: vSPEI'JH'IE, F OAKLAND,

' CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS For. rana'rmc racxaenn Goons.

Application filed June 23, 1820. Serial Ho. 891,048.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ELMER C. NoR'rHRUr' and EDWARD H. 'Srnorrr, citizens "of the United States, and residents, respectively, of the city and county of San-Francisco, and Oakland, county of Alameda, and State of California, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Treating Packaged Goods, of which the followin is a specification.

Our invention rdlates to means for treating, as by cooking, canned or other packaged material, and one of the objects of our in vention is the provision of an apparatus of this character, in which each package is moved though a treating chamber while being repeatedly inverted or turned end for end, and also rotated about its axis or rolled, so that the contents of the paekage is stirred about.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an apparatus having a rotatable carrier for the packages of material undergoing treatment, and in which no moving parts other than the carrier are required to cause the progression of the packages through the apparatus; the structure of t e carrier being such that rotary movement and the force of gravitation effect the desired progression of the package The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of our invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part or the specification. it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as we ma adopt variations of the preferred form wit in the scope of our invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the cooker taken in the plane indicated by the line 11 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the discharge'end of the cooker, ortions being broken away better to disc ose the structure. Fig. 3 is a detail showing a portion of the charging end of the carrier when made for hand feed. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through a modified form of cooker. F' 5 is a vertical sectional view taken in p anes indicated by line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and showing the cooker as arranged for a shortened cooking period.- Fig. 6 is a perspective of a portion of the modified cooker. 1.

In terms of broad T inclusion the structure of our mvention comprises a runway, or for the sake of increased capacity, a plurality of runways; means for introducing packaged goods into the runways; means for applying to the goods inthe runways the treatment desired, which in the instant case is the application of heat to cook the contents of the package; means for moving the runways to inverted position so as to invert the package and means fixed for movement with the runways for causing the packages to progress throu h the runways and be discharged there rom.

dournaled in bearings 2 on the suitably formed frame .3 is a shaft 4 upon which a cylindrical carrier is fixed for rotationtherewith. The carrier comprises a cylindrical frame in which spokes 6, radiating from spaced hubs 7 keyed to the shaft 4:, are connected by cross bars 8, on which the rings 9 are secured. Connecting the rings and l in in planes parallel to the axis of the s a t, are channels 10. The channels are spaced circumferentially about the rings and are arranged in pairs, the channels of each pair lying parallel to and opening toward each other as shown in Fig. 2. Each pair of channels thus constitutes a runway through which the packages or cans 11 move while in the apparatus. The outeredges of the channels are surrounded by the rings 12 concentric with the rin s 9 so that a rigid structure is provided. large worm wheel 13 in mesh with the worm 14 driven by the belt 15 from any suitable source of power, provides means for revolving the carrier. The length of the carrier frame may be as desired, its length and speed of rotation, determining the length of the period of cooking or other treatment.

Surrounding the carrier is a housing 16 the interior of which is heated to the required temperature by any desired means. Preferably coils 17 are arranged between the carrier and the housing and are fed from thevalve controlled supply main 18;.- Live steam is also. admitted into the housing from coils 19 connected at one end into the supply main, by valve controlled pipe 20 and ar ranged across the lower portion of the housing. These coils 19 are provided with apertures so that jets of hot steam play upon the the cans in the runways as the carrier turns from theloading position. Owing to the open nature of the carrier structure, the heat within the housing readily reaches all portions of the cans.

Means are provided, stationary on the carrier, for effecting the movement of the cans 11 through the runways when the carrier 1s revolved. On the inside of the flanges of the channels in each pair, a track for controlling the movement of the cans rolling thereon, is fixed. Each-track comprises an inclined portion 21, and a stop portion 22, and the outside pair of tracks are so arranged relative to the inside pair of tracks, that the stop portions of'each pair of tracks are opposite the beginning of the inclined portions of the other or companion pair of tracks. In other words, opposite sides of the runway are provided with pockets, the pockets on each side being staggered 1n respect of those on the opposite sides. The first inclined portion of the outer pair of tracks is extended somewhat to form a loading lip 23'upon which the entering cans roll from appropriate loading or feeding means, or are placed by the operator. The loading preferably occurs at the bottom of the turn of the carrier, and the can rolls down against the first stop. As the carrier revolves, the runway is slowly inverted, and the can falls from the outer tracks which are then on the upper side of the runway to the beginning of the downwardly slantin portion of the inner tracks. It. then ro ls down against the next stop, lying in the position of can 11 and having taken the first step in its step-by-step movement through the runway. The second step occurs toward the end of the second half of the first revolution, that is to say, when the runway has been inverted for the second time. The can now occupies the position shown by can 11 Thus with each complete revolution of the carrier, the runway has been twice inverted, and the can has taken two steps forward, falling with each half turn out of the pocket in which it rests into the opposite, slightly advanced, pocket. A second can is then placed on the loading lip, and at the completion of another revolution, a third can, and so on indefinitely. Coming down on the last half of a revolution, the first can is finally dropped upon the discharge lip 26 of the outertrack, and rolls thereon out of the runway and upon the discharge plate 27, on which it rolls out of the housing through the a erture 28 therein. On the completion 0 the next revolution, the second can emerges. Thus a continuous succession of cans may be passed through the apparatus, each one being repeatedly inverted and subjected to a steptween the channels 31 near the housing agaaeea by-step rolling movement which agitates or stirs the contents. Such agitation permits the contents to be quickly and evenly brought to the re uired temperature, which is then maintain for the rest of the cooking period. Variation in the speed of rotation or in the length of the runways varies the cooking period, but with the factors. of heat and speed constant it will be obvious that every can is exposed to the cooking temperature for exactly the same length of time.

Means are provided for feeding a can into the apparatus, with each successive registration of a runway with the charging aperture 29in the housing, so that each runa way may be kept full of cans. A slanting track 31 formed of a pair of channels, open side in, and adapted to receive cans from any suitable source, is alined with the loadin lip 23 when the runway is registered with the loading or charging aperture. Be-

a feed wheel 32 formed with diametrically disposed recesses 33, and rotated in time with the carrier by suitable gearing 34 driven by gear 36 on the same shaft with the worm 14:. The wheel 32 picks up the cans, one at a time, and deposits them on the inner end of track 31 from which they roll down onto the loading lip 23 of the runway then in register with the loading aperture. Since the movement of the carrier is continuous, a small amount of clearance is needed longitudinally of the can, to permit complete loading without jamming a can between the carrier and the edge of the loading aperture. A. spring pressed lever arm 37 bearing on the can in the wheel, prevents a premature release of the cans from the feed wheel. As shown in Fig. 3, the channel on the leading side of the runways is preferably provided with a lip 38 extending angularly therefrom to direct the can into the runway in case the loading movement occurs a trifle too soon, when the cans are fed by hand.

In Fig. 4 we have shown a modified form of our cooker in which the carrier is made in a plurality of sections which may be oper-. ated together as one, in the same manner as that structure already described; or in which one or moresections may be disconnected, leaving one or more sections active. In Fig. 4; two sections are shown, but it will be obvious that any number of carrier sections may be used. The first section. nearest the loading aperture, is secured to the the housing, normal] closed by a remot able cover plate, an when the carrier is turned to the position shown in Flgs. 4 and 5. The. runway which in this position isthe lowest, is attached to the rings 43 by readily removable screws 44, the outer rings 46 being so arated at this point, and t e adjacent en s respectively connected by the segments 47- to which the removable runway is attached. Screws 48 fix each segment to the ring ends.

When it" is desired to operate only the first section so that the cooking period is correspondingly shortened, the removable runway is detached by reaching up through the opening in the bottom ofthe houslng and removing screws 44 and 48. The cover late is then removed and the bolt connectmg the sections taken out. A cover plate 49, shown in Fig. 6 is then applied over the aperture. This plate is provided with a flange 50, adapted to lie between thetwo sections in a recess in the ring 43, and engaging at its two ends, the shoulders 51 formed in the ring, as shown in Fig. 5. It

will be seen that with the plate 49 thus p0 sitioned and held to the housing by cap screws 52 through the apertures 58 the second section and the third section, if any, f

attached to it can not move. The flange performs anotherfunction. As the cans are carried downwardly on their last half revolution in the first section, they roll into engagement with the smooth face of the.

flange, instead of being caught and crushed in the o n ends of the runways in the sec ond section. en the cans pass the'lower end of the flange they roll out of the first -secticm into the space vacated by the removabie runway and roll down the removahie chute 5t, and thus out of the apparatus. Thus without varying the speed of revolution of the carrier, the time of cooking may be varied by disconnecting one orv more sections, the cooking period being then determined by the length of the active sections. Thus with a three-section carrier,

5 the third section might be uncoupled from the second and. the flange inserted between it and the second section, as already explained. The cans would then travel through the first two sections and discharge from the apparatus at the end of the second section.

If the sections are all active, the cans emerge from the last section and roll down the chute 56 upon. the chute 54 Preferably the chute 56 extends closely adjacent the chute 54, and its lower end 57 is hinged or detachable so that it may be turned up or taken ofi when cans are passing. down the chute 54. The structure, otherwise is the same as that first explained.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for treating packaged means for heating the interior of saidhousingr A v -3. An apparatus fortreating packaged goods, comprising a runway for said packages, means for inverting the runway, means stationary relative to the runway and operative by inversion of said runway for causing said packages to progress therethrough, and means for introducing packages into said runway.

4. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprising a runway for said packages, means for inverting the runway, means stationary relative to the runway and operative by inversion of said runway or causing said packages to progress therethrough, a housing for said runway, means for heating the interior of said housing, and means for introducing'packages into said runway.

5. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprising a runway for said packages, means for inverting the runway, means stationary relative to the runway and operative by inversion of said runway for causing said packages to progress therethrough, and means for heating said packages during. their progress through said runway.

6. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprising a' runway for said packages, means for inverting the runway, means stationary relative to the runway and operative by inversion of'said runway for causing said packages to progress therethrough, a housing for said runway, means for heating the interior of said housing, and means for introducing said runway.

7. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprising means for passing said packages through said apparatus with a mo; tion including. inversion and step-by-step rollin movements.

8. n apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprising a rotatable'carrier, longitudinally arranged runways on said carrier for said packages, means stationary relative to said carrier and operative by rotation of said carrier for causing said packages to a succession of packages into lid " mg said 9. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprising a rotatable carrier, longitudinally arranged runways on sald carrier for said packages, means stationary relative to said carrier and operative by rotation of said carrier for causing said packages to progress therethrough, and means for introducing a succession of packages into said runways.

10. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprising a rotatable carrier, longitudinally arranged runways, on said carrier for said packages, means stationary relative to said carrier and operative by rotation of said carrier for causing said packages to progress therethrough, and means for rotating said carrier.

11. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprising a rotatable carrier, longitudinally arranged runways on said carrier for said packages, means stationary relative to said carrier and operative by rotation of said carrier for causing said packages to progress therethrough, means for rotating said carrier, and means for heating said packages during their progress through said runways.

12. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprising a rotatable carrier, longitudinally arranged runways on said carrier for said packages, means stationary relative to said carrier and operative by rotation of said carrier for causing said packages to progress therethrough, and means for heatackages during their progress through said runways.

13. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprising a rotatable carrier, longitudinally arranged runways on said carrier for said packages, means stationary relative to said carrier and operative by rotation of said carrier for causing said packages to progress therethrough, a housin for said carrier, means for heating the interior of said housing, and means for introducing a succession of packages into said runways.

14. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprising a rotatable carrier, longitudinally arranged runways on said carrier for said packages, means stationary relative to said carrier and operative by rotation of said carrier for causing said packages to progress therethrough, a housing for said carrier, means for heating the interior of said housing, means for introducing a succession of packages into said runways, and means for rotating said carrier.

15. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprising a rotatable carrier, longitudinally arranged runways on said carrier for said packages, means stationary relative to said carrier and operative by rotation of said carrier for causing said packages to prglgress therethrough means for heating sa1 packages during their progress through aeeaeaa mid runways, and means for introducing a succession of packages into said runways.

16. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprising a rotatable carrier, longi-. tudinally arranged runways on said carrier for said packages, means stationary relative to said carrier and operative by rotation of said carrier for causing said packages to progress therethrough, a housing for said carrier provided with charging and discharging apertures with which the ends of said runways are registered during the rotation of said carrier, and means for automatically introducing a package throu h the charging aperture into each runway during the registration period.

17. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprising a rotatable carrier formed in sections each of which is a carrier, longitudinally arranged runways in said carrier for said packages, means in said runways operative by rotation of said carrier for causing said packages to pro ress therethrough, means for rotatin the rst section of said carrier and means $01 releasably coupling the sections together.

18. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprising a rotatable carrier formed in sections each of which is a carrier, longitudinally arran ed runways in said carrier for said packages, means in said runways operative by rotation of said carrier for causing said packages to progress therethrough, means for rotating the first section of said carrier, and means for releasably coupling the sections together, one runway in each section after the first being removable to permit the discharge of packages from the runways of the preceding sections.

19. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprising a rotatable carrier, longitudinally arranged runways in said, carrier for said packages, means stationary on said carrier and operative by rotation thereof for causing said packages to progress therethrough.

20. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprlsing a rotatable carrier, longitudinally arranged runways in said carrier for said packages, and tracks having an inclined portion alternated with a stop portion stationary on opposite sides of each runway.

21. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprising a rotatable carrier, longitudinally arranged runways in said carrier for said packages, and tracks having an inclined portion" alternated with a sto portion disposed on opposite sides of eac runway, the stop portions of each track being neeneee said packages, and tracks having inclined portions separated by stops stationary on opposite sides of said runway.

23. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprising an invertible runway for said packages, and tracks having inclined portions separated by stops disposed on opposite sides or said runway, said stops on each tracir being disposed opposite the beginning of the inclined portions of the companion track.

24. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprising a rotatable carrier formed in a plurality of sections, means for rotatin the first section of said carrier means reiasably coupling the sections together, and a guard plate adapted for insertion hetween a rotating and a non-rotatating section.

25. An apparatus for treating packaged goods, comprlsing a rotatable carrier formed in a plurality ofsections, means for rotatin t e first section of said carrier, means reiasably coupling the sections together, a

housing enclosing eeid carrier, as cover plate closing an amrture in said housing and a flange on said cover plate extending etween a rotating and a non-rotating section to prevent the rotation of the latter and the engagement of cans therewith.

26. An apparatus for treating packaged goods comprising a runway having on opposite sides thereof tracks, each track comprising inclined portions and stop portions, the inclined and stop portions of each track being staggered in respect of the inclined and stop portions of the opposite track whereby inversion of the runway causes a package to progress therethru.

An apparatus for treatin goods comprising a runway an staggered pockets disposed on opposite sides of said. runway whereby inversion of the runway causes a package to progress therethru.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands.

ELMER C. NORTRFUP. EDWARD H. SPECHT.

packaged so 

